Taunton Thespians News

Cynthia

Sun, 19 Dec 2010 09:32:24 GMT

It is with great sadness that I have to report the death last night of Cynthia Jones, a long standing member of Taunton Thespians, Wellington Civic Players and Wellington Operatic Society. She will be sorely missed.

Auditions for GamePlan

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 20:13:27 GMT

Auditions for GamePlan by Alan Ayckbourn, our autumn production, are being held next Tuesday and Thursday, the 3rd and 5th of August, at The Place. Ages to be played are 16 - 50, so there is a good range of opportunities to look at.

Margaret Way RIP

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:37:46 GMT

We are very sad to report that Margaret Way passed away on Monday morning, 19th July 2010.

Margaret was our longest standing member and a Vice-President of the society, as well as being a prolific Thespian, with acting credits going back to 1935 as well as directing credits. There are a great many of our number who have acted with her, been taught and inspired by her. She was, and is, a true Thespian and will be greatly missed.

Her funeral will be held at Taunton Crematorium next Wednesday, 28th July, at 11.30am

Click on the title of this article to search the site for the plays she was involved in over the decades.

Notes for audition

Thu, 08 Jul 2010 06:38:33 GMT

Tonight's audition for the Directors' Showcase in September is a diary change - originally it was shown as being on Tuesday. Arthur Cummins is directing a piece by Gillian Plowman called David's Birthday, and has sent across some preparation notes, which are available here.

Robin Bush

Wed, 23 Jun 2010 07:06:15 GMT

It's with immense sadness we learn of the death of Robin Bush, one of the most influential and talented people in the performing arts in Somerset. He will be greatly missed.
Our President, John Meikle, comments:
"We have just heard the sad news that Robin Bush passed away yesterday after a struggle with lung cancer.
The ambient light of Taunton will burn just that much less brightly in the passing of Robin. who illuminated life and history for so many people who had the privilege of his friendship.
Our condolences and admiration to Hilary who has nursed Robin for so long.
John Meikle"

Tour Ten 2010 Week One Report

Sun, 20 Jun 2010 09:45:00 GMT

Week One of Tour 10 down, and a good time has been had by all, I think. All a bit strange at Bishop's Hull first night, with a wind blowing voices off towards Taunton, but the weather much better at Glastonbury. The accoustics there were fine, but the hour of change ringing from the church next door from about 7.45 rat...her trashed Act One. The rooks followed on, slightly less loudly but more randomly... Friday took us to The Rose And Crown at East Lyng, where a small space and a small audience were much better entertained than those who chose to do other things. (I believe there to have been a soccer match on somewhere, but as we're not involved due to the Hand of Frog, I'm not paying too much attention). Last night at Hartwood House we had a great venue, no wind and excellent food at the Carew Arms to follow.
And so to week 2, starting at Binham Grange on Tuesday... full details and online booking via this site

Summer Play Readings

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 11:38:19 GMT

Check the Diary for a full list of Summer Play Reading dates; when the plays themselves are known, details will be posted here.

2010 - 2011 season

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 11:37:00 GMT

Our three productions for the next season have been selected and directors chosen; initial details are here. Provisional audition dates for Damsels in Distress are in the Diary on the 26th and 29th of July and 2nd and 5th of August. More details will follow

Summer Tour starts Tuesday

Sun, 13 Jun 2010 11:33:04 GMT

In case you've missed it, our Summer Tour starts on Tuesday, at the Frank Bond Centre in Bishop's Hull. Full details are here, and you can buy tickets online via Ticketsource

Swannie update

Fri, 21 May 2010 17:43:46 GMT

To wrap the last article (and the webmaster apologises for failing to do so sooner), Swannie's biopsy was clear, thank goodness. The medical profession once again demonstrating that they've not all moved on from the depiction in The Madness of George III, methinks.

Our Swannie

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 07:04:16 GMT

Many of you will have heard that Swannie was taken into hospital last Sunday, feeling quite unwell, and that as part of the investigative process she was given a CT scan, which was followed by an ultra sound and a biopsy. She was told on Wednesday, without preamble, that ‘her old problem’ was back, which news has obviously hit her and her family extremely hard. She has since been told that there is an ‘outside chance’ that the mass shown up by the scan may not be cancer, but possibly an infection. A second biopsy has been done, and Swannie will not know the results until Thursday this week. In the meantime, she is in limbo, not knowing what to think, not daring to hope.

She has asked that everybody be contacted by email, so that she doesn’t have to go over the detail of the last week innumerable times, and sends warm thanks to all her friends in the Thespians for all their texts and calls and support. She’d love it if you could all keep in touch with her via texts and phone.

We win again!

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 11:03:58 GMT

Taunton Thespians' two plays in the Somerset County Drama Festival came away with a bunch of awards last night (27th March). Sylvia Fellgett's production of Seascape by Tony Rushforth was unlucky to get nothing more than a Best Actress award for Jane Edwards, but Polly Bray's staging of excerpts from the Neil Simon/Anton Chekhov Good Doctor won the festival. Richard Stenner's portrayal of Kistunov in this production won him Best Actor. Congratulations to all involved!

Summer Tour 2010 - Audition pieces online

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 20:54:27 GMT

Tomorrow (Wednesday 17th March) there's an Open Evening at The Place to talk about this year's Tour. We're going back to Shakespeare again, with Ray Court picking up the director's mantle this time. The play will be Shakespeare's As You Like It, and audition pieces can be downloaded from the website. Just follow the link from the title of this piece. Auditions, as per the Diary, are on the 29th and 30th of March.

Daisy's Show and Tell

Sat, 19 Dec 2009 09:23:23 GMT

Just a brief advance notice, which will be repeated once the festivities are over. Our first Club Night in the New Year will be on January the 6th, at The Place, and we're going to use it as an opportunity to talk about our recent trip to Africa with Daisy Pulls It Off. Plus, of course, a chance talk about Xmas. It's also an opportunity for anyone who might be thinking of joining the society, or who is at a bit of a loose end and wants something to occupy their spare time, to come along and see if drama ain all its forms is the thing. No charge will be made, no hassle either, and it's only £12 a year if you do want to join us.